This week, Germany holds federal elections, and if you are reading this after the 22nd of September you will know the result and whether Angela Merkel, the most powerful woman in European politics, will be embarking on her third term of office.

A few months ago I met Dr. Merkel in Berlin. I admit that I always wanted to meet Germany’s first female chancellor.

I admired this scientist with a doctorate in Physics who has risen as a political leader in a rather conservative country.

Myself, coming from a region where traditional gender bias has a deep impact on society and where women really have to struggle their way up the ladder, I considered her to be a remarkable example to all of us women as a successful leader who has maintained her country as the largest economy in Europe and the fourth biggest in the world.

One of the greatest challenges facing leaders today is how to bring wellbeing and progress to society and how to promote economic growth and prosperity in their countries.

Dr. Merkel’s first concerns are with the German people, their welfare and happiness.

She is preoccupied with how to provide a higher quality of life, improve the quality of jobs, increase employment, improve skills training for young workers and increase assistance to the young unemployed, promote equality for all in education and job opportunities, and make the state more family-friendly.

Dr. Merkel wants to build a dialogue about Germany’s future and wellbeing.

As a step towards this she initiated the First International German Forum about the wellbeing and progress of people, which took place at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin last June.

I was one of the 15 international experts and the only Arab Saudi woman invited by the Chancellor to participate.

The meeting also gathered other people from the national and international business, political, social and research community.